The past few years have seen groundbreaking innovations hit the world of LED technology. Recent advancements are bringing about lighting solutions that cut across wet, harsh, and unique industrial settings. Most innovations are largely attributed to the increasing ability to create new form factors when LED technology is been utilized. These recent advancements in the lighting fixtures are bringing a revolution to the lighting world that was not possible with the traditional lighting sources available before this time.
In the past, it was very difficult to achieve significant light output as such a task required big and bulky fixtures, causing a limitation in innovation. Manufacturers have now been gifted with easier ways to develop fixtures that are customized to their specific application needs, as opposed to trying to manipulate an existing design to fit in. Resultant from this, the market has now been saturated with a lot more lighting fixtures products that are application specific, creating a scenario where it is easier to find the right product that will match your environment.
There are a number of factors that deserve consideration when making your choice of the best LED lighting fixtures that will fit into your wet and/or harsh industrial environments. The importance of these varies depending on the application, but here are some important points that should be considered and understood.
- The first is the IP rating.: IP ratings are units used to define the level of sealing a light fixture has against any form of intrusion. The sealing level is specifically against external bodies like dirt and moisture. The IP rating in most industrial fixtures range between IP65 and IP69 – higher numbers show a higher level of ingress protection. The revolution on LED technology has caused new housing designs to their fixtures equipped with higher IP capability. Industrial settings are quite different, you just simply can’t have a fixture with an excessively high rating.
- Another major factor that is often overlooked is chemical resistance. This is especially important in high chemical dense areas where wet and hose down applications is required. Polycarbonate has grown into becoming most popularly accepted materials for lenses because of the level of workability they bring and the durability that they offer. Despite its level of durability, Polycarbonate is still prone to minor stress cracks, crazing, and color change when exposed to certain chemicals (especially acid based) for a long period of time. Since exposure to Chemical is a potential risk factor, you should be careful enough to check and be sure of compatibility with the manufacturer.
- Other important factors of Industrial LED fixtures that deserve serious consideration include lifespan rating and maintenance issues. The lifespan of the LED is a direct reflection of two constituents: the quality of components used and the care paid during construction. The ability to control the level of heat generation by the LED will go a long way to determine how long the fixture will last. Lighting fixtures that are manufactured at the highest industry standard and can control heat are typically rated to last up to 100,000 hours. This extended lifespan generally results in lower stress of maintenance and improved payback over time. Other potential cost reduction maintenance features that deserves been looked out for include: the ability to daisy chain fixtures and quick connect cabling.
With an increased potential go change the definition of energy saving and the increased ability for the development of application-specific fixtures, it seems so obvious that we are in the best time to consider LED lighting fixtures for Industrial Environments.
Download Branding Resources Guide
Building a brand starts by having the right tools and advice. Download our top 10 essential tools and resources to kick-start your branding.
